Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 63.29
Liaison Geory Kurtzhals
Submission Date Oct. 13, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Notre Dame
OP-19: Waste Minimization and Diversion

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.35 / 8.00 Mike Seamon
Vice President
Campus Safety & University Operatis
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures needed to determine total waste generated (and diverted):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Materials recycled 2,398 Tons 1,368 Tons
Materials composted 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials donated or re-sold 658 Tons 822 Tons
Materials disposed through post-recycling residual conversion 0 Tons 0 Tons
Materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator 3,467 Tons 4,686 Tons
Total waste generated 6,523 Tons 6,876 Tons

A brief description of the residual conversion facility, including affirmation that materials are sorted prior to conversion to recover recyclables and compostable materials:
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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2007 June 30, 2008

A brief description of when and why the waste generation baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
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Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 6,432 6,963
Number of employees resident on-site 608 580
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 12,255 11,650
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 6,030 5,372
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 15,473.75 14,652.25

Total waste generated per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total waste generated per weighted campus user 0.42 Tons 0.47 Tons

Percentage reduction in total waste generated per weighted campus user from baseline:
10.17

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator by recycling, composting, donating or re-selling, performance year:
46.85

Percentage of materials diverted from the landfill or incinerator (including up to 10 percent attributable to post-recycling residual conversion):
46.85

In the waste figures reported above, has the institution recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold the following materials?:
Yes or No
Paper, plastics, glass, metals, and other recyclable containers Yes
Food Yes
Cooking oil Yes
Plant materials Yes
Animal bedding No
White goods (i.e. appliances) Yes
Laboratory equipment Yes
Furniture Yes
Residence hall move-in/move-out waste Yes
Scrap metal Yes
Pallets Yes
Tires Yes
Other (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of other materials the institution has recycled, composted, donated and/or re-sold:

Materials that are recycled on an on-going basis (not included above): batteries, automotive oil, lightbulbs, ink cartridges.


Materials intended for disposal but subsequently recovered and reused on campus, performance year (e.g. materials that are actively diverted from the landfill or incinerator and refurbished/repurposed) :
125 Tons

Does the institution use single stream recycling (a single container for commingled recyclables) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
Yes

Does the institution use dual stream (two separate containers for recyclables, e.g. one for paper and another for plastic, glass, and metals) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
No

Does the institution use multi-stream recycling (multiple containers that further separate different types of materials) to collect standard recyclables (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, metals) in common areas?:
No

Average contamination rate for the institution’s recycling program (percentage, 0-100):
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A brief description of any recycling quality control mechanisms employed, e.g. efforts to minimize contamination and/or monitor the discard rates of the materials recovery facilities and mills to which materials are diverted:
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A brief description of the institution's waste-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:

The University performed a Request for Proposal (RFP) in 2017 for its waste disposal, recycling and diversion services. A part of that RFP included working with the University to improve its diversion rate via education and behavior change. The Office of Sustainability is working on a new educational program.


A brief description of the institution's waste audits and other initiatives to assess its materials management efforts and identify areas for improvement:

The University performed a waste audit in 2017 and is pursuing recommendations made from that audit.


A brief description of the institution's procurement policies designed to prevent waste (e.g. by minimizing packaging and purchasing in bulk):

The University uses Office Depot as its preferred supplier. Most Office Depot orders are delivered to campus box-free. Instead of being encased in corrugated cardboard and plastic packing materials, they arrive at their destinations in brown paper shopping bags that have been shipped inside reusable green plastic bins called totes.


A brief description of the institution's surplus department or formal office supplies exchange program that facilitates reuse of materials:

The surplus property program, known as NDSurplus, is an integral component of managing the life cycle of University assets by providing a centralized location for diverting products from the waste stream. We accomplish this by reallocating products throughout the University, as well as selling them to individuals and nonprofit organizations.
Created in 2003, NDSurplus strives to be a prudent steward of the University of Notre Dame’s assets and resources. A fact-finding team determined the value of implementing a surplus property management program as an integral component of the procurement cycle.


A brief description of the institution's platforms to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and reuse (e.g. of electronics, furnishings, books and other goods):

In 2014 Notre Dame instituted FurnishND where faculty and staff have the option to select workspace furniture (desks, bookcases, filing cabinets, side chairs, etc…) from an on-campus inventory of high-quality, pre-owned items instead of purchasing new.


A brief description of the institution's limits on paper and ink consumption (e.g. restricting free printing and/or mandating doubled-sided printing in libraries and computer labs):

Since the adjustment of student printing quotas in 2014, the amount of paper used by students through the PrintND program has decreased by 28% - almost 3.1 million sheets of paper.
Campus Mail will only accept up to 300 of the same item within a one month period. This policy reduces printing costs and paper use. Any department wishing to perform a mass mailing must receive an exception from the Office of Sustainability. Since instituting this practice the Office receives only one or two requests per year.


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to make materials (e.g. course catalogs, course schedules, and directories) available online by default rather than printing them:

The University of Notre Dame provides a course bulletin at the beginning of each academic year. It is Notre Dame’s default to not print course schedules or directories. Students may view class schedules online and currently sign-up for classes completely online. Notre Dame has stopped printing a telephone directory and the majority of the information is available on the online directory.


A brief description of the institution's program to reduce residence hall move-in/move-out waste:

Old2Gold is the University of Notre Dame’s annual end-of-year yard sale of items donated by students. At the end of each academic year, students put unwanted items at collection points around campus. Items include televisions, stereos, bicycles, furniture, refrigerators, clothing, shoes, etc. Campus Warehouse & Delivery Services collects them and sets up a giant “Yard Sale” at the local county fairgrounds which is open to the public. The proceeds from this sale help to support local non-profit organizations. Any unsold items are donated to local charities.


A brief description of the institution's programs or initiatives to recover and reuse other materials intended for disposal:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.